Industrial conveyer system



s. L. G. lKNox INDUSTRIAL CONVEYER SYSTEM oct. 13, 1942.

7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May l, 1939 Oct. 13, 1942; s. L. G. KNOX IINDUSTRIAL CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed May l, 1959 7 sheets-sheet 2 Oct. 13,1942. s G; KNox INDUSTRIAL coNvEYER SYSTEM '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Mayl, 1939 Oct. 13, 1942. s. L. G. KNox INDUSTRIL CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed May1, 1939 '7 sheets-sheet 5 Oct. 13, 1.942. 5 Q KNQX 2,298,704

INDUSTRIAL CONVEYER SYSTEM Filed May l, 1939 7 Shef/S-rShet 6,

253 Hill Oct. 13, 14942.

`s. l.. G. KNox 2,298,704 INDUSTRIALCONVEYER SYSTEM Filed May l, 1939'7' sheets-sheet 7 Patented Oct. 13, 1942 ':IiEiD GFFICE "2,298,704INDUSTRIAL coNvEYEn SYSTEM Sairiuel Lippincott `'Griswold 1-I Ifnui:,vEn'glwood, N.. J., .'assign'or tir Lamsononoration, V Sya--- cuse, 'NJY., al 'corporation of New York Applieaddn May' 1, 1939, 'serial No;271,138

'17 Clai1s.

invention relates to `indi'ls'tial crivyer Systems and in its I'nOspecific aspets vt cofiveyer systems forpicking up automatically andconveying loads. from a plant distributing point, heiiiafterfre'frred to-as a loading station, to 'any' one of a :plurality 'f unloadingstations'at which the Aload -or loads .are .automatically depositd.

The invention contemplates and has for-onerof its `malin. objects -a`load conveying Vand, distributingsystem 1vii'licli lischaracterizled by:simplicity fV `censtrnotion rand design. as Adstin 'uished from .priorsystems. in which carriers 7:are suspended vfrom an over-head track anddriven by a conventionaldrive chain, the Apresentsystem employs atraclfsystem on which is supported an endless series -of Wheeledcarrier'sfor the floadsgto be-.transportei the carriers zbeingpropelledlby meansof--a tovving cable arranged :above the -track andsupportedsolely o'r;atleastto ai majorlextent bythe carriers and hence -by the-tracl itself. A novelvform of towing cable drive is-utilized, such'being also supported from thetrack which accordingly provides the mainsupport l for the carriers traveling; thereon, for-the towing cable vandforgthe cable driving mechanism.`A

invention also fcontemplates `simple-and effective means by `which thetraveling carriers areenabled automatically #to pick upappropriatelypositioned `loads at the loading station, and by whichthelloadedcarriersfas they move past the selected-'unloading station orstationsmay deposit, their loads on suitable lo'ad receiving means, suchAas the -loweringmeans usually associated with each `unloading station.

In systems fto VWhichthe present `inventionfha's especial "application,the :loads are elevated at 'the distributing or `loading lstation to the@level'at which' the carriers as they are propelled alongthe track maypick them up and carry them onfto'the selected unloadingstations tocauselthe carriers to there-deposit the'loads and toclowerlthemto thelWorkingl levels thereof.

Thespresent invention contemplates improved means "of sii-pliedconstruction and bperation by Whichthe rperato'r `at the-loading stationmay select fa particularreceiving `station-'to which ya load "or fa,vplurality of lloads is 'to be vconveyed r'and there deposited 'and bywhich the carriers themselves, following "the appropriate setting of thestation selectingmeans, control the elevation of the loads Iat theloading station'to -thelevel' which they may-be picked upbythe'cairiers, and

also `th'e subsequent deposition and 41ovile'ringv thereof 'up'onth'ecarriers arrivingfattheselected receiving stations. Y

T ffirtlr feature Hdf theI .pl't "infn'ti'n resides'in an 'improvedinode df delivering the' loads tothe .elevator at the loading statinand,provides .not onlylfoi" predetermined dfeed movement of the 'loads "tolthe .levator,fbut also that .such movement can occur o'ilyylienthelevatori'sin proper position to reci've a load, Twith the "feed meansbeing lactuated by an already available source of.=powei, A A v AY.Qi-her objects Twill be 'in-part obvious Vand inpartdhereinaiterpointedout fin connection mth the iy following-l.Vanalysis of tl'is invention vvherin is .illustrated .an Aembodiment.of"thef invention in detail.

TFig. 1* islaside elevation of =a suggested installationv of a eonveyer.system in accordance with thepreent invention:

3 lisa-plan View ofthe drive mechanism-.for the--tewingrcableg Y i Fig.4 is a side elevation of thebable ldrive illustratedin Fig.. 3;

fFigs;;5, `Brand 17 @are :detail viewsiaillustrating features voflthelc'dble driving fmechanism;

wigs- 3, giahdfi'o xagfe iside, `tplaniland elevational anism undercontrol of the operator at the loading station.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged detail view illustrating the relation of a tab toa carrier following setting of the tab;

Fig. 12 is a partial perspective view of the construction of the carriertrack;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation illustrating the loading station elevator,the tab-setting mechanism associated therewith, and the elevatorhoisting mechanism;

Fig. 14 is an end elevation of the parts illustrated in Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the loading station elevator and associatedtab-setting mechanism;

Figs. 16 and 16a are detail views of the tabsetting or dialingmechanism;

Figs. 17 and 18 illustrate, respectively, the manner in which a carriermay pick off a load from the loading station elevator and the manner inwhich a carrier may deposit a load on an unloading station elevator;

Fig. 19 is a side elevation of the Work-box feeding incline for theloading station elevator and associated mechanism;

Fig. 20 is a plan view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 19;

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the leverage system for actuating thevalve Which controls supply of pressure fluid to the loading stationhoist;

Fig. 22 is a detail view of the valve as aforesaid;

Fig. 23 is a perspective view of the leverage system for actuating thevalve which controls supply of pressure iluid to an unloading stationhoist;

Fig. 24 is a perspective View of van unloading station mechanism foroperation by a particular tab combination, and of the leverage systememployed therewith in the control of an unloading station hoist valve;

Fig. 25 is a side elevation of the load discharge chute associated withan unloading station elevator and related mechanism;

Fig. 26 is a plan view of the mechanism illustrated in Fig. 24.

Referring to the drawings in detail and more particularly to Figs. 1 and2, such being illustrative of an installation of a conveyer system inaccordance with the present invention in a twooor industrial plant,there is indicated at .A a loading station located, for example, at afocal distributing point on the rst iioor X for work in various stagesof completion which is to be conveyed to and deposited at selected workstations located mainly in other parts of the plant, as on the secondiioor level Y. It will be understood that the two-floor plantarrangement and the suggested location of stations is illustrative only,as all operations may be performed on one floor or they may be performedon any number of floors in excess of the two floors shown, dependingupon the particular requirements or the particular industrial plant inwhich the sysl tem is installed.

In the particular installation under description, it will be assumedthat there are sixteen stations to which work from the loading staion Ais to be distributed (stations B, F, G, O, P and Q being indicaed), thenumber of unloading stations being so given because the carriers of thesystem to be described are each provided with two sets of four stationselecting tabs which permit of sixteen different combinations, and hencethe actuation of sixteen different unloading station mechanisms. Thenumber of loading and unloading stations will depend of course upon therequirements of a particular installation, and the illustratedarrangement oi a single loading station and sixteen unloading stationsis suggested for purposes of illustration and description only.

As distinguished from prior overhead conveying systems in which carriersare suspended from an overhead track by trolleys driven by aconventional drive chain, the present invention employs an overheadtrack of endless construction as at l0 (Figs. 1 and 2), the track beingpositioned at an appropriate level above the floor from which it issupported and generally adjacent the ceiling of the particular floor.The track as illustrated has a rising incline portion Il, theinclination of which is somewhat under thirty degrees to the horizontaland the length of the inclined stretch of track being such as to extendto an appropriate level above the second oor.

Upon reaching this level, the track at a desired point may make a turnor loop and thereafter extends straightway in the illustrated embodimentfor a substantial distance which may be several hundred or severalthousand feet.

At its other end the track is shown to make a reverse 180 turn or loopand may thereafter slope downwardly as at I2 to return to its rst floorlevel as indicated. Preferably the track structure is supported atsuitable intervals along its length by risers or standards from thefloor over which it extends although suitable ceiling brackets may beutilized when and if necessary to assist in supporting the track.

The construction of the track and the rails thereof is betterillustrated in Fig. 12 wherein is shown a straightway stretch or sectionhaving an outer track generally indicated at 20 and an inner trackgenerally indicated at 2|. The outer track is comprised by an outerC-shaped rail 22 and an inner C-shaped rail 23, the rails being shown asintegral but where formed separately, they are also generally C-shapedin section, being secured together in back-to-back relation. Each of therails 22, 23 has a wheel retaining vertical ilange 24, 25, respectively,the bottom flanges 26, 21 extending horizontally and being devoid of anyvertical flange such as the flange 24. The inner track 2l may becomprised by a rail of L-shaped section so arranged that one iiangeextends horizontally. The outer and inner tracks are rigidly securedtogether along straightway stretches as by transverse beams 28, thelooped ends of the track being shown as supported by outer and innercorner plates 29a, 29D, of which the inner plate 29h is utilized inplace of the inner track 2l at the loop ends of the track structure.

The track as above described is adapted to provide a support for aplurality of three-wheeled carriers to be more specically described inconnection with Figs. 8, 9 and 10, of which front and rear wheelsarranged on the relatively outer side of the carrierrun in the inner andouter rails 22, 23 of the outer track, a third wheel arranged on theinner side of the carrier and intermediate the outer wheels running onthe inner track 2|, except at the loop ends where the inner wheel runson the inner corner plates 29h.

The contemplated track arrangement is such that the carriers aremaintained substantially horizontal throughout not only the straightway'stretches including the rises "and dips'f'at fthe loading 'andun-loading stations, respectively, 'as will be described, but also innegotiating track inclines and `slopes `such as the 'rising inclinestretch andthelowering slope stretch f| 2i previously referred to.Thus,`with the carrier rear wheelrunning in the outerrail- 22' andthecarrier front wheel running in the inner rail 2-3 lof the outertrackytheinner rail of a level stretch going into a rise iscontinuedlbeyond 'the-*outer rail a distance 4which is equal to thedistance between the front and rear carrier wheels, following which therails extend along the vincline in relatively spaced andparallelrelationas indicated `by the designations 22 and`23 applied to the. rising tracksection of Fig. l. As thecarn rier. inner wheel is intermediate theouter front and 'rearjwheels the inner track 2| in, goinginto a Arise iscontinued to a point intermediate the points where the outer rails begintheir'rises and from. thence extends along the incline and intermediatethe. outer rails. `When viewed in .side elevation as in Fig. 1, thisrelation appears from the track designation2| in the rising section Ingoing from a level stretch into a slope the opposite arrangementobtains; that is, the inner rail 23 in which` the carrier front .wheelruns is relatively above the outer rail, with vthe inner track 'beingdisposed intermediate the inner and outer rails of the outer track, aswill be apparent from the slope section |'2 in Fig. l.

By the aforesaid. arrangement the'three carrier wheels and hence thecarrier in negotiating an incline are maintained horizontal andaresimilarlymaintained horizontal in negotiating a track slope, so that thecarrier. loads are at al1 times. properly maintained in the carriers,not only as the carriers travel over the straightway track. section butalso when the carriers change elevation as in going from one licor ortrack level to another.

The. carriers arev propelled. along lthe .track Il] by a towing cable 30disposed above the carriers and along the longitudinall center line ofthe track, `the cable being of endless construction and engaging -at itsloop ends with idler guide -sheaves 3|., 32 rsupported by postsl33 fromtrack corner plate 29a. The cable is ofilexible construction so that itcan make horizontal turns of relatively small radius and can also vmakevertical turns as required to follow the inclines and slopes of thecarrier track. Preferably, track-supported brackets carrying upper Aandunder corner rolls as may be necessary are provided at 34, thus to easethe cable over or under such turns and -to properly guide it with`reference to the track portions of varying elevation.

By reference to Figs. 2A and 2B, illustrating a suggested arrangement ofvertical corner brackets in lrelatively large scale, a bracket posthaving a vertical leg 34a, a transverse arm 34h, -and a dependingvertical leg 34o is shown to be supported from the track or from atransverse `beam extending thereacross. Secured to the depending -legr34C are spaced bars 34d, 34e,both of which extend along an arcdetermined by the radius of the turn. Between the bars* extends aplurality of axles 34j on which anged corner rolls 34g are journaled.With the cable following the inclination of the track, and with thetrack going into a rise, the relatively lower bracket .is arranged sothat thev cable 3i! runs under rolls 34g, whereas with the cable goingfrom'an incline to a horizontal stretch, as on the second ncorievel,ithe'- cable-runsfovertlierolls 34g. The transverse: farmdib'oi the:bracket post is elevated withreference to the rolls 34g to providecarrier clearance asth'e carrierrchanges elevation..

'By reference lto Figs. 3-7 inclusive, the cable 3|) isfcons'tituted by?a-plurality of interconnected sections which VAare preferably Vjoined bysplices and drive shackles. alternately arranged. Thus of lfl'veadjacentsectionsidentied by characters 30a, 36h; "lle, 30d land 30e,cable section 30a is connected *to cable: section 3819 by a splice 35;cablesection 3012-V is yconnected to cable section 3'Uci1by-"a 'shacklel36; cable section 30e is connected to cable section- I`360i 'by asecond splice 35, and Acable `section-311:1-i's' connected to cablesection :30e by asecondshackle 36. The alternately arranged -splices 35provide convenient means Yof connecting the 'carriers to the cable 3U bytowing posts* to "be` described, the alternately arranged shackles'36providing a driving connection between thecable and a caterpillardrive mechanisrn toA be described whereby the cable is continuouslyactuated in an endless path.

The caterpillar -drive mechanism for the cable is supported byirameworkgenerally indicated at 40 (Fig. "3) zwhich is in turn supported at bothof its ends from A'the track structure by posts or standards 4|.The-'framework may be comprised by longitudinal angle members 42, 43secured in spaced` parallel relation by transverse beams 44, 45. To oneend of the framework is secured a supporting platel for a geared headmotor adapted throughsuitable reduction gearing generally Vdesignated 46to actuate a drive sprocket L5|l'turning 'onza vertical axis. Atthe'other end of the supporting framework is mounted an idler sprocket5|, the sprockets 5U, 5| being arranged in' alignment and' suitablysupported from framework4lll.

Also supported in valignment in the framework are the idler sprockets52,53 turning on vertical axes in "a plane spaced from the axes of thesprockets' '50, 5|. The distance'between sprockets 52,53, while greaterthan the length of two cable sections, is substantially less than thedistance between ,sprockets 50, 5|, so that with the sprockets vturningin clockwise direction (Fig. 3), 'an endless 'caterpillar .drive chain55 driven by sprocket 50 "and supported by the idler sprockets 5|., 52,and'53 has an inclined stretch 55a which 'approaches cable`30, astraightway stretch 55h between sprockets'i5'2, 53 which runs parallelto and. closely adjacent a substantial stretch of the cable 30,`a'stretch 55o which inclines away from the cable 230', and a returnstretch 55d extending between sprockets 50, 5|.

The drive chain'55 carries a plurality of cable driving shoes generallyindicated at 60 (Fig. 6), each having a horn portion 6| provided with achainreceivinggap 62 (Fig. 5) and an inclined leg Uportion 63. The shoesare each secured to the chain by across pintle or axle 64 on the axiso'f'which the 'shoe may turn relatively of the drive chain', a pair ofvspacedV supporting rollers` 65a, l65b1being'carriedV at the. ends ofthe pintle 64. In the free. end of the. leg "63 ,is arranged a crossaxle66 for a second ,pairof supporting rollers 61a, l'b.

As the chain 55 travels along the straightway portion 55h adjacent thetowing cable 35, the Vhornportions 6| of the'driving shoes are adaptedto` engage with the cable shackles 36, thus to drive the cable.Accordingly the shackles 36 which are spaced' from each other thedistance between 'drivingshoe's 60 aree'ach provided with an elon' gatedhorn receiving opening 36a into which the horn portion of a drive shoeis adapted to be projected. Preferably, the relatively forward andrearward edges of opening 36a are rounded as indicated in Figs. 6 and'1, the horn being provided with rounded front and rear seats forengagement with either the front or rear edges of a shackle opening.With no tendency of cable 39 to overrun, a driving horn engages thefront edge of a shackle opening, thus to actuate the towing cable to theright (Fig. 3). However, any tendency of the cable to overrun is checkedwhen the rear edge of the shackle opening engages against the rear seatof the horn then in engagement with said shackle. Inasmuch as the lengthof the drive chain stretch 55h is greater than the length of two cablesections and hence of the distance between the shackles, at least onedrive shoe is always in engagement with a cable shackle, thus insuringcontinuous cable drive and cable retarding effect when the latter isnecessary.

In order that the horns 6| of the drive shoes maintain a i-lxedright-angular relationship with reference to the driving cable 30, theshoes are guided by a suitably arranged track system supported fromframework 40 as they move throughout the stretches 55a, 55h and 55d ofthe driving chain. Thus, as indicated in Fig. 5, rollers 65a, 65h travelin spaced, oppositely disposed c-tracks 68, 69, and rollers 61a, 61htravel in a single C- track 10. The tracks 68, 69 are preferably securedto each other along cable stretch 55D, the length and inclination of theshoe legs 63 being such that with this track relation the horn portionof the driving shoes extend at right angles to the cable.

Due to the relative inclination of chain stretches 55a, 55e, track 1Umust be spaced from tracks 68, 69 so that the driving shoes are turnedon the axes of their pintles 64 an angular amount which corresponds tothe angle of inclination of said inclined cable stretches. Thus, fordrive chain stretch 55a, track l0 is spaced from tracks 68, 69 by aspacer 1| an amount such that the slope of the shoe legs 63 of the shoesnegotiating the spaced track portions is the same as the slope of theshoe legs negotiating the track section adjacent the` straightwaystretch 55D, whereby the driving horns move at right angles to the cableduring their entry into the shackle openings. At the right end of thetrack section and along the receding drive chain stretch 55C, the tracksection lll is continued beyond the end of tracks 68, 69, whichterminate on the center line of sprocket 53, the section 'l0 thenterminating in an inclined portion of relatively short length whichextends substantially parallel to the drive chain stretch 53. In thismanner the horns are withdrawn from the cable shackles 53 whilemaintained at right angles thereto.

Referring now to Figs. 8, 9 and l0 illustrating the carrier and relatedmechanism, one of the plurality of carriers is generally designated 80,being constituted as by an inverted U-shaped framework having an uppertransverse member 8| connecting vertically arranged and spaced sidepieces 82, 83, each having a forward lower extension 84. The relativelylower edges of the side pieces are turned inwardly to provide facingflanges 85, 86 which extend horizontally and in spaced relation. Thespacing between flanges is such that thev elevators at the loading andunloading stations may move into the position indicated in dotted lines(Fig. 10). The spacing between the vertical side pieces of the carrieris such as to accommodate a load to be transported,

such as a work box 8l positioned in the carrier and supported therein onthe flanges 85, 86. It will be here noted that the carriers are eachopen at their bottom and front and rear ends so that a carrier may moveover a load positioned to be picked up and so that the carrier may moveaway from a load which it has deposited on. suitable load receivingmeans.

The relatively outer side piece 82 of each carrier has a lateralextension 88a from which depends a mounting plate 90a spaced from theside piece 82. A mounting plate 98h carried by the inner side piece 83through extension 88h thereof is also provided. Mounted on the innerface of the plate 98a is a caster support 9| for a rear supporting wheel92. The forwardly extending portion 84 of the carrier is also providedwith a caster support 94 for a front supporting wheel 95. As indicatedin Figs. 8 and 10, the rear carrier wheel 92 runs in the outer rail 22of the outer track 20, and the front carrier wheel runs in the innerrail of the outer track, the wheels being held to the outer and innerrails by the overhanging flanges 24, 25 thereof.

On its relatively inner side the carrier is supported by a third wheel91 mounted on the carrier by a caster support 98, the wheel 91 beingarranged midway between wheels 92, 95 and running on the inner track 2|.This arrangement of three supporting wheels, with the third wheel beingarranged on the relatively inner side of the carrier and midway betweenthe front and rear wheels thereof permits the carrier to turn onrelatively short radii, while at the same time providing the necessarysupport and stability.

The connection between the towing cable 30 and the carriers is alsoillustrated in the figures under consideration Preferably thisconnection takes the form of a C-shaped tow post |89, of which the upperhorizontal leg |0| is pivotally related at one end to the vertical crosspart of the post, the other end carrying a vertical pivot |92 carried bythe cable splice generally indicated at 35. The lower leg |83 of the towpost is pivoted to turn on a vertical pivot |04 extending through thetop connecting piece 8| of the carrier. The arrangement is such thateach of the tow posts, while connecting the cable 30 and a carrier, maypivot on the axis of the vertical pivots |82, |94 to position permittingthe carrier to make both right and lefthand horizontal turns. Followingsetting in one position, the tow post is held in that position by anover-center spring |05 until the post is engaged by a xed cam or armmounted just before each horizontal corner sheave where reversal isnecessary. The C-shape of the tow posts is provided to permit rollers ofvertical corner brackets 34 (Figs. 2A and 2B) to pass relatively throughthe post.

The splice 35 as illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9 is preferably constitutedby cable end-blocks 35a., 35b, into each of which is secured the end ofa cable section, the end blocks being flexibly connected as by couplinglinks 35e, 35d, 35e, which permit the splice to ilex vertically andhorizontally. Vertical pivot pin |02 preferably extends through theelongated through-opening of the intermediate link 35d.

The carriers are each provided with outer and inner sets of tabs whichare normally maintained in retracted position, but which may be actuatedin varying combinations to operative position by setting mechanism underthe control of the loading station operator. The set of outer tabs ismounted on the outer plate 99a, the set of inner rtabs being `mountedon-the` inner ,platefb.- As the outer -andiinner'fsets Qffitabsgare of'identical bracket; Mounted on nsaidspindleibetween the bracket arms formovementindependently of each other are a plurality of tabs `which intheconstruction illustrated -are four :in number, be-

ing designated '||4a., ||5a, f'lla, and ||1a. It will be here noted thatthe tabs-of theinnerset are designated ||4b|,||\5b|, `H611and-H121'..The tabs are each normally ymaintained in inoperative position ('Fig99by a torsion-.spring 4| I8, oneend of which is hooked 'over' a tabpart, the other -end .bearing against the relatively outer face of theframe plate'Sa; The tabs are each generally L-shaped incontour,` having-an elonand a notchedend-|.22. l-IJpon the shoulder |2| of a retractedtabbeing engaged byan element .of the tab setting mechanism to Ybedescribed, .the .ta-bis-swung about axis foffspindle rto its` openoroperative position as indicated in Fig. ,11, in which it ,is held asby aftriangular latch bar |24 fixed ito l'and mounted for turningmovement with .posi-tion by Aa torsionspring |26 secured at `one Vendtothe` bar as yby screwilf21, itsother end'bear- .ing against therelativelyouterface of -thef-rame plate 96a. When so latched in openvorf-operativeposition, a -tabfmaintainssuchposition until latch bar |24is turned clockWisetFig. 11) -upon trip .pin |28 :(Fig. llvwhichiscarried ona' downward extension of 'latch spindle |25,\ being engaged bya tab release pin carried by the unloading-station elevator, as `will bedescribed.

Each ofthe carriers is also `provided with-.afload bar |3|J jpivoted tothe'boxsupporting range 85 as at |3|=and bei-ngnormally Lbiased byspring |32 tothe inclined .onsloped positionindcated in Fig. Y8. `Upon aload'being picked'up by the carrier, however, the Irelativelyrear end ofthetload bar |3|J is depressedfand its forward or'front end isaccordinglylraised zoutiofthe path of a trip lever for-actuatingfthevalve controlling -the elevator hoist `at theiloading station -as will`beidescribed.

-The means for setting the-tabsvmay .take various forms,ytheillustratedsetting means rbeing carried bythe loading'station elevator=so that `as the .elevator 1moves =to Vits up position thetab .settingmeans carried thereby-also moves to a position,-depending onits-setting., as Jto-engage one tab on eachaside `oa carriennegotiatingfthe. traclcabove the station. .f

- vAs .the tab setting Ymeans is-carriedby-and movable. with theloading-stationelevator Athe Alatter tand its actuating means `will berst described.

Referringto Figs. 13,.-14and `15,- reference charactcrJ-til designates aforked or yU-sloaped'elevatorplatform having anl under frame `|4|.includfing a transverse 'member the ends of which are provided withA-holcs lthrough which pass guide the ...overhead trackst-ructure.v'lhefguide rods ends of an equalizing bar 168, .which latter is piv-`otallyv carried intermediate `its ends bya `post |6| extending from thelowerend of a -Xed hoist cylinder |62.

The lower `intermediate sheaves |51 rotate on 4a .Xed axis, being`carried as `by za bracket |65 securedto the hoistcylinder. `The upperpairs of sheaves |55, .|56 are carried by a bracket-,support |66 securedto the pis-ton crosshead |61 and accordingly lmove withthe cylinder.pistony (not shown).

The hoist .cylinder is rigidly suspendedirom the track structure Abycarrying rods |68, `||i9fse cured at their upper ends by' bolts to atransversely extending-track bracket-|18. Each of the hoisting cables|52, |53 is-preferably provided vvith a turnbuckle `|12 whereby `thefeffective-length of the.cables may be adjusted evenly. Suitablesheaverguards |14,'|1'5 `may be provided to `maintain .the vcablesseated in .the grooves of the setsoimovable sheaves |55, |56. Similarly,sheave guards V|16 maintain proper engagement of the cable inthe -lowerrixedsheave |51.

Uponpressure fluid-being supplied to thelower end of rthe cylinder |62to actuate the piston.

`therein onits up stroke, piston cross head |61 and hencesheaves |56 areraised,` thuseffectively to shorten the length Aof 1the .cable stretchbetween elevator vanchor arms 48, v1|49 and sheaves 1| 55,.thereby toactuate the elevator .platform to its "upf position. Y

Considering `now -the tab-setting--mechanism, `reference ycharacterindicates an -elongated `U shaped-bracket secured tothe Velevator under-.frame |4| below itsv elective platform surface.

The end-flangesJSI, |82 `of the vbracketextend laterally of the`platform |40 fora substantial distance and are vertically arranged asindicated in IFig. 13.V `.Secured to bracket flange |8| is a .guidertubef|84 and secured to the bracket "ilange |82 is aV guide tube |65,the tubes providing a guide mounting at each side of the elevatorplatform for tab` rods |875, |81. At their upper ends `the rods lcarrytab-setting arms `lilik-|89 which yare secured to the rods as by coilsprings |9|), |9|,

each having ,onetend secured to a rod and its other-endheld by'one ofthelcollars |92, |93 `ii-xed on the respective-rods. Springs 190, |9|bias .the arms |88, |89 so that in tab-setting position they extendinwardly and into the path .lof shoulders `|2| of the carrier tabs.

The relatively outer ends of both shafts |96, |98 project beyond thebracket ange |8| and are adapted to be rotated by cranks 200, 20|carrying handles 202, 203, respectively. Extending from the inner end ofeach of the handles is a stem adapted to engage one of a series of veholes in the bracket flange |8| associated with each handle. The fiveholes of each series are spaced along the circumference of a circledescribed by a handle as it is rotated throughout its arc of movement.One hole a of each series designates a neutral point at which, eventhough the tab setting mechanism is in raised position,

tab setting arms |88, |89 are disposed below the lowermost tab I |4a,|4b of the tab sets mounted on a carrier. Upon handles being turnedclockwise so that the handle stems engage in holes b, the tab rods |86,|81 are raised a predetermined amount such that when the elevator andtab setting mechanism carried thereby is in its up psition, tab settingarms |88, |89 line up with tabs |4a, lldb, as indicated by the dottedline showing (Fig. 13). When so lined up, the arms |88, |89 are adaptedto engage the shoulders |2| of the designated tabs (see dotted lineshowing Fig. 15) as the carrier moves past the raised setting arms, thusto set or Varcuate the tabs to their open or operative positionindicated in Fig. 11.

Similarly, actuation of handles 202, 203 to a position in which handlestems engage in holes c of the series causes further upward movement oftab rods |86, |81 to a position in which tab arms |88, |89 line up withtabs ||5a, ||5b. In like'manner, further movement of handles 202, 203 topositions in which the handle stems engage in holes d of the seriesactuates the tab rods |86, |81 upwardly an amount such that tab arms|88, |89 line up with tabs ||6a, ||6b. Finally, when handles 202, 203are turned so that their stems engage in holes e of the series, tab arms|88, |89 are raised to a position that they line up with tabs ||1a,||1b.

The described arrangement of tab setting or dialing means in conjunctionwith ythe independent mounting of each of the tabs of the sets thereofpermits of sixteen different combinations of tab settings. Thus handle202 may be turned so that its pin engages hole b of the series of holesassociated therewith, with handle 203 being turned to selectively engagein either hole b, c, d or e of its series, thus providing fourcombinations of settings. A second setting of handle 201 in hole c ofits series provides an additional four combinations. Again, setting ofhandle 202 in hole d of its series provides a third series of fourdifferent combinations; and, finally, setting of handle 202 in its holee permits of four different combinations. Accordingly it will be seenthat the dialing mechanism as described permits settingrof the tabsmounted on a carrier in sixteen different combinations, with eachcombination being related to a particular receiving or unloading stationas will appear in the following description.

As indicated in the foregoing, the present inventionproposes that thecarrier as it moves past the loading station automatically pick 01T awork box Vconstituting the load from the raised loading stationelevator. So that this action may be accomplished both automatically andby simple means, the track at the unloading station is so constructedand arranged that it causes a carrier negotiating this portion of thetrack to move upwardly of the elevator, while at the same timemaintaining the carrier horizontal. To this end,

reference being made to Fig. 12, the inner rail 23 and the outer rail 22of the outer track 20 are provided with inclined rises or humps 23a and22a, respectively, the inner rail 2| being also provided with a rise2|a. The said track rises having a uniform slope or angle ofinclination. The distance between rises 22a, 23a of the rails of theouter track is equal to the distance between the outer wheels 92, of acarrier, the distance between rises 23a and 2 la and between 2 la and22a being the distance between wheels 95, 91 and between wheels 91, 92.By reference to Fig. 17, it will be seen that as the carrier moves upthe track rises, it gains elevation while maintaining its normalhorizontal position, and upon negotiating the rise travels along thetrack at the relatively raised elevation.

The relation of the loading station elevator in its up position to thetrack rise is illustrated in Fig. 17 wherein it will be understood thatthe elevator is stationary, havingbeen actuated to its uppermostposition between the outer and inner tracks of the track structure. Inthis up position, the top surface of the elevator platform extendsapproximately flush with the level or plane assumed by the carrieriianges 85, 86 upon the carrier negotiating about half of the rise.Considered lengthwise of the track the elevator is positioned so thatits front and rear edges are located approximately in alignment with thefront and rear edges of the side pieces 82, 83 of a carrier when thelatter has traveled half-way up the rise.

Assuming an empty carrier is moving to the left to approach the raisedelevator having thereon a load such as the work box 81, it will beunderstood from the prior description, particularly in connection withFig. 10, that the work box has a substantially greated width than theelevator. As the carrier negotiates the low level portion of the trackimmediately to the right of the rise, and also the lower half of therise, carrier anges 85, 86 move into position below the box and extendalong the sides thereof. However, as the carrier completes the last halfof the rise, carrier flanges 85, 86 engage the bottom of the box alongits side corners and the further change in carrier elevation is utilizedin lifting or picking olf the box from the elevator. With the boxpositioned in the carrier and supported on the carrier flanges 85, 86,the carrier is propelled forwardly and conveys the box along the path ofmovement as dened by the track structure.

The present invention further provides mechanism responding to theapproach of an empty carrier to the loading station for controllingactuation of the elevator to its up position prior to the arrival of thecarrier at the station. The mechanism by which this elevator control iseffected is schematically illustrated in Fig. 21, in which referencecharacter 2 l0 indicates a trip lever mounted on a rock shaft 2| I whichextends below the track and transversely thereof. As indicated in Fig.9, trip lever 2|0 is positioned normally to extend into the path of loadbar |30 when the latter is biased to its sloped position indicated inFig. 8. Rock shaft 2|| at its relatively inner end carries a forked arm2|2, the fork of which straddles a rod 2|3 adjacent fixed collar 2 I5,one end of the rod being connected to a valve operating arm 2|4. TheValve 2|9 operated by arm 2|4 is indicated in Fig. 22 and comprises athree-way valve which controls communication between pressure uid supplyline 2|6 and line 2|1 extending to the lower end of 2,229.8;3204' the.hoist cylinder: :l 6.2; and. alsoehetween line? Zdilt and. cylinder`exhaust line 2i| 8`. Whenrhandle 2 t is actuated tothe right (Fig.229.,.the' valve` estab:

lishes communication. between supply line; 21.6 and line 2H', and henceadmits; pressure fluid` to the hoist' cylinder. When handle 2'I4l isinits leftposition, the valve provides communication between lines 2| 1and 2| 8. whereby. the. hoist cylinder may exhaust. Handle 2I41is heldin the positionto which it has been actuatedlby. over'- center spring220.

Normally, valve handle 2|4 is maintainedrin its-leftwise position due toaction of spring.r.-220, whereby the hoist .cylinder is. connected4 toAexhaust, with the weight of the piston, elevator andrelated mechanismthereby causingy the .elevator to assume Vits low position. Upon anempty carrier approaching the loading: station, however; load bar |30engages trip lever: 2 l0 and` turns it in counter-clockwise direction,thus toirock shaft 21H; Accordingly` forked arm 2II2.. isA actuated `inlike direction, and its lower forked end engages collar 215.; thus toactuate rodw2li3.` and valve handle relatively to t'heright and'.therebyestablish communication between lines 2|'6 and 2H. Accordingly fluidpressure is supplied. to the lower endof the cylinder andv beneath thepiston therein, thepiston is actuated on. itsY up stroke, and theelevator with aload thereon is actuated to its up position. It will beunderstood that :triplever 2| 0' is positioned in advance of'the loadingstation sufficiently so that by the time the' empty carrier? reachesthe. station the elevatorfis in fully raised-1 position.

Thel present invention further contemplates means controlled by theelcarrier for eiectng lowering movement of the elevator at the vloadingstation following picking up,y of a work box` from thefraised elevator.To this end, inner and outer fixed1 release bars 23 I ,'232 `(seeliig.9) are securely mounted on the carrier mounting plates a, 90b,respectively, the nose portions voithe release bars extending well inadvance of the tabs mounted-on the carriers and the bars being spacedlaterally ofthe carrier proper. Release bars. 23.12, 232 are adapted7 toengage release levers 234, 235 (Fig. 21.) fixed on a rock shaft236extending below the track and transversely thereof, the posi@tioning` of shaft 236 being somewhaty beyond or past the loadingstation. Secured to rock shaft 236 is an arm 231 to which the otherend'of rod 2| 3 is secured. Turning movement of releaselevers 234, 235in counterclockwise direction causes rocking movement ofA shaft 236 andVcounterclockwise movement of arm 231', the latter i movement actuatingrod 213 axially tothe left (Fig. 21). y

Release levers 234, 235 are so positioned` that their upper ends areengaged by release bars 231, 232 ofa carrier as the carrier, followingpicking up of a load, moves away from the loading station. Thus,following actuation of-valve handle 2I4l tothe right upon load bar 30engaging trip lever 210, the release bars engage levers 234, 235 toreturn valve handle V2M to its leftwiseY position,` thus permitting the.cylinder to exhaustand' the elevator to lower to itsl initial position.Thereupon, Valve handle 21M lis. held irl-its4 leftwise position byspring 220 until the next empty carrier engages trip lever 2|0i thus.`to actuate the valve handle 2|4 to the right andftocallup' they loadingstation elevator.

It will be ynoted that .rock shaft 2H, in` addition to rocking movementas aforesaid, isf` also permitted'. tilting movement in; a vertical"plane britse-mounting vin a: 'universal .bearing .element 2318?tilting-1 is effected as by pulling idown the: .outer endliof! the..shaftl 2.1.'1.. to. its dottedline positionfindicatedi. in Fig. 21'.;lid-this. dotted line position trp.lever2ili0'l is depressed. out. oflthe pat-trof.' `load bar:` 1130i :ofv'r any. approachingy emptycarriere'. As; will be: hereinafter. described, rock shaft .2fl'l takes.upitsdotted line position:` when there is no.` load available to` the.:el'evatorg.. it. being obvious.: that .under. this condition actuationofthe s' elevatorto its rup position'. serves. no Vuseful purpose.

' Referringy ,to'rFigsL 19l andi 20', .then present.v invention. furtherprovides.. mechanism! operating toz` supply loadsto the loading stationelevator under. the. control i. of .the elevator. Accordingly thereistarrangedi-:adjacentxthe .elevator a'. downwardly inclined feedchute'iconstitutediin. .part as* by. side frame...angles 250:, 252|:supported.' in inclined.v positioniabove the floor: level by setsoi1uprights125i2, 253. Angles..2'50., 251 are a-rrangedf. in facing.relation, the vertical flanges thereof being :spaced-.fanvamountslig-htly in excess ofthei 'wi'dthi of thef work` .boxes adapted-`to.. be supportecl'.` thereon by the: horizontalv flanges.Rollers.:sections?255.;` 256: supported'fby sets ofuprightsz253g. 2.5.provide a, continuationYV off. the sirlevframe.. angleshandzcarryavplurali-ty of rollers 2.5'1J which-:permit the workzboxesto rollintozplace on 'theeelevator platform; ByI reference toFig. .20ti'wilflbeseen that the roller: sections are :spaced to accommodatethefelevatorfplatform. 1.40; Y

Arranged intermediatethe'v side frameangles and .roller sections.; is..an.` intermedi-ate roller section e260 whichA may be secured to.. the:chute frameworkl as bya. parallel linkage mechanism not shown.:Thevintermedirate roller. section 26.0 is. normally higher than thesiderollersections butfisuwdepressed as Ya loaded work` box .rolls-overit. Carried .bythe intermediate .roller 'section is ai downwardlyextending push rodi 262, thelower end of which is pivotally connected toyone arm of'a1.bell`crank 263 arrangedto turn about pivot 2643 of."afbracket arm: 265 extending downwardly from: theechutefside iframes.Azspring 266 secures thefotherlarm ofthe` bell crank tov a` xed partsuchxas :azcross beam extending betweenI the sets ofuprifghts 253``Spring 12t`6 normally urges the bellf.crankA 263'i'inJclockwisedirection', thusv to maintain'thefintermediatef.roller section 260 in`its relatively-elevated.relatiorrunless a weight of a loaded workfboxrthereon causes said.' section `to bef-1 depressed .1

Byzfurther reference to Fig. 20 it` will. be seen that.' the.relativelyr'lower end of the intermediate section-:1260 nextendszinto.the space Mea between theiforksior legszof the. elevator platform. Whenthe platform is in its low position itf engages lugs`25|0j 27H"securedi..on stop rodsf2l2, the sto-p rodsfibeingr eaclr:.normallyfurged.v to up position byimeansof springs-213;` In such up positionthe-upper ends of the stop. rods which extend through. atframe cross;piece 2714 project into` the normallpath" of.' .a-work boxA moving downthe chute toithe elevator, thus:` to prevent movement of' the workboxeson. to the elevator except whenlsthe elevator istin its low position.

Ass thel intermediate roller section 260" is depressed by' the `weightlof the work box rolling therecwer,` push rodi` 262" is similarlyactuated downwardly to. turni-bell. crank 263. The'fother armor?? thebell'crankis.` connected to one end of:v apnsh: rod 215, the other. end.of which is connected to one arm of .azbell crank 211161pivoted for.turning- 'movement in a1 bracket: support 2:11,

the other arm of the bell crank being connected to a rod 218. This rod218 is substantially vertically disposed and has its upper end securedto an arm 289 of a collar xedly secured to the other end of the rockshaft 2| Thus, with no work box on the roller sections of the chute aswould depress the intermediate section, leverage system 262, 253, 215,216, 218 results in rock shaft 2|| being tilted to its dotted lineposition (Fig. 21) whereby to move trip lever 2|8 out of the path of thecarrier load bar |39 as previously referred to. With a load on theroller sections of the incline causing depression of the intermediaterollers 260, however, push rod 218 is actuated upwardly to return rockshaft 2| I to its full-line position, with the result that trip lever2|9 is in position to be engaged by the load bar |39 of an emptycarrier.

In order that the work boxes may be fed one at a time to the elevatorbox, pusher means deriving its power from the elevator hoist isemployed. Such pusher means may include a plurality of U-shaped pusherarms 285 spaced from each other substantially the length of a work box,the pusher arm units being each pivoted to the legs of a U-shapedbracket 285 which are secured to parallel, axially movable pusher rods281, 288. The weight of the cross pieces of the U-shaped pusher armunits 285 is suiicient to maintain them in their inclined position asindicated in Fig. 19. However, the free end of said arms may bedepressed readily to ride under work boxes carried by the side frameangles during movement of rods 281, 288 and pusher arms to the left.tained in their relatively leftwise position by a tension spring 299secured to a cross angle 29| extending between the side frame angles andthrough a flange of which the ends of the rods 281, 288 extend. Theother end of the spring 290 is xed in arm 292 secured to one of the pushrods 288.

Also secured to arm 292 is one end of a cable 293 running over idlersheaves 294, 295, 296. The other end of the cable is secured to thepiston cross head |61 (Fig. 14). Thus, as pressure uid is supplied tothe lower end of the cylinder and the cross head is raised, cable 293actuates push rods 281, 288 relatively to the right (Figs. 19 and 20),thus to actuate the pusher arms 285 also to the right. During thismovement, the upper or free ends of the arms of the pusher units engagethe rear sides of work boxes positioned on the chute to move themforward the distance of one box, the stroke of the push rods 281, 288being predetermined in relation to the stroke of the piston cross headto effect this limited movement.

By the above described arrangement it will be seen that despite thepositioning of a plurality of work boxes on the inclined chute,nevertheless a box cannot be fed on to the elevator platform unless theplatform is in its low position. It will also be appreciated that atleast one work box must be positioned on the low end of the chute and soavailable for feed to the elevator before any empty carrier negotiatingthe track in advance of the loading station can eiect actuation of theelevator to its up position, and, finally, that each upward actuation ofthe elevator causes a step by step feeding movement of the work boxesinto a position that when the elevator returns to its low position thelowermost box will roll on to the same.

Assuming that a particular carrier has picked Said rods are mainup itsload from the loading station elevator and that the tab settingmechanism has set into operative position a tab on each side of thecarrier, in accordance with the operators dialing and selection, thecarrier in its further travel on the track structure eventually arrivesat the selected receiving or unloading station having mechanism whichcorresponds to the particular tab setting of the carrier. r.Thearrangement is such that this latter mechanism when actuated functionsto call up an elevator located at the selected station, whereupon thecarrier deposits its load thereon. In moving past the unloading station,the empty carrier actuates mechanism operative to effect lowering of theelevator so that the load is lowered to the working level of thestation, this latter carrier movement also effecting unlatching of thecarrier tabs whereby they are returned to their normal inoperativeposition.

Considering rst the aforesaid mechanism at the selected unloadingstation which effects actuation of the elevator at that station to itsup position, reference is had to Figs. 24, 25 and 26. In advance of eachunloading station is a pair of U-shaped bell crank levers, of which onelever generally designated 399 is disposed at the relatively outer sideof the track, the second bell crank lever 39| being disposed at theinner side. The outer bellcrank 399 includes a rock shaft 392a, aninwardly directed station tab arm 3930 and a lower arm 394a. The tab arml393e is arranged at the level of one of the tabs ||4a, ||5a, ||6a,||1a. The inner bellcrank 39| similarly includes a rock shaft 392D, anoutwardly directed station tab 393D, and a lower arm 394D, the sta- Ation tab arm 3831 being disposed at the level of one of the innercarrier tabs H41), ||5b, Ilb and H117. The rock shaft portions of thelevers which extend vertically are journaled for rotary movement inbushings 3960i, 3951) mounted from the track structure on a transversetrack bracket 391.

Extending between the lower arms 39411 3942), and pivotally securedthereto by pivot pins 3|3a, 3|3b, is a thrust bar 3|9 of a leveragesystem hereinafter referred to as a whiilietree mechanism, the thrustbar being provided with elongated slots 3||, 3|2, in which the pivotpins operate. As so far described, it will be understood that as stationtab arm 303:1. is actuated counterclockwise and simultaneously therewithtab arm 393D is actuated clockwise, like movement is imparted to thelower arms 39441, 3941) to move thrust bar 3|9 ahead as a unit. In itsnormal position, thrust bar 3|9 extends relatively straight across thetrack and in this position levers 393:1., 3931) are in position to becontacted and rotated by carrier tabs having a setting corresponding tothe eifective height of the arms 303a, 393D.

Pivoted to draft bar 3|9 intermediate its ends by a king pin 3|4 is apush rod 3|5, the forward end of which is pivoted at SI5 to a lever 3|1fulcrumed at 3|8 to -a fixed element below the track structure. Theother or relatively inner end of lever 3|1 is connected to one end of arod 3|9 extending to the handle 320 of unloading station hoist valve 32|generally similar to the loading station hoist valve (Fig. 23). Inasmuchas the unloading station hoists actuated by said valves are identicalwith the previously described loading station hoist, description of theformer will not be here repeated.

A spring 322 operative between lever 3|1 and aofoavoi E anwelenient ofa:traolesupportedfibrokot;` 23;-fin

nod,

haust, 'such being fthe normal Vvalve handle posii move the-rod 3ls-anofvalyeliaiidle azotothrleft, ,p

`-illust'ratezd asfhaving? an upper trip arm 34 which vend lof thehoistcylinder, tous to colate-thom- `the thrust barl occurs-'as is"requiredLtol actiiate `the unloadingstation-elevator itoits up position.Unloading fstati'on elevator 330 fis sllbstantially like the loadingstation "elevator 14o previouslyX 5 f forked end ofthe arm-"342' andits' other end se- `c`red to a'xed'me'mber serves to`hold arm 342fand-hencethebellcrank assembly'in its normal 4Loffipositionin-iwh'ichfthe other'orinn'er vend of the tend guido posts" 33a,saaifwliioli. gui-oo iilrieffeloval wardlyextending end pins 33T-33. iInithe Aiup position of the elevator, pins 33'|, y338'"comer-Sintoposition (shownin'dotted lines,fFigs.i"-1 and 14) as 'td be 'engaged by'tripfpins |28 io'rmingl al part of the carrier tab rlatch mechanism,Athus to "turn "-to their 'normal inoperative# positionl under 4v'thekAAssll'lning' thabaloaded carrieri approachving the 'selected unloadingVstation has"`` actuated the elevator at that station to its up position,

furtherm'ovement of the-carrier acrossthetrack structure above thestationiautomaticallyfeiects' ythe'V deposition ofv the-load "Orr 'the'raised Lelevator.

This isf accomplished l by providing a ffdipf in the track #structureabove l the v"unloading FT station 'Whereby--the' carrier? losesrelevation relativelyof" *the raised "elevator,"v and so doing-'depositslaits lload-on the elevator. f Such anfarrangemeiltiis indicated in Fig.18 wherein a dip 2 Ib is-provided l "`"f'aireitirile,y being maintainedhorizontal as-itfrie'gotiates y'the' I dips. lall as indicated designio.

life i0 spaced from-1arml'342 but positioned to engage`cylinderekhausts'through'lines 352, '353 as here- `ir'ib'eioreiindicated. "Assuming the Whiilletree mechanismitohave actuated thekvalve handle to '-"theileft (dotted lineposit'ion)v to supply pressure:influence 'of springs fl ls. 50'

" ythe icarrierhas negotiated approximately half of the dip.Accordingly, with the elevator disposed ffbetween the inner and outertracks, the carrier deposits itsload on the elevator 330 as thecarriervnegotiat'es' the full depth of the track dip,

`1 'the vempty carrier thereupon traveling along its 4-patllfofimovement on the track for subsequent i reloading at the loadingstation.

'In order `that the unloading station elevator 33llfcarrying thework boxmay now be lowered 'i ,to the working levelof that station, the carrierrelease bar 232 'on' the relatively inner 'side `-of `Teach carrier is:provided with an` extension 23211 '-"vvl'l'ich,A when ltheunloadedcarrier moves some- 11 :what `Kbeyond 3theuhloading station, f actuatesa leverage systemfoperating to return valve handle 320'11to its`"norm'a1Aexhaust position; so that" the unloading station hoist cylinder mayexhaust.

arm 332,!saidarmsbeingconnected by a vertical "*c'onnecting'shfaft 343mounted for rocking movementin a'bushing carried 4vby and sidewardly of"the 'track structure. "The forked `end of the lower c 'airmf342'straddles rod 3| 9. On the rod is secured 'a 'stop' collar- '345,` thiscollar 'being normally 'theiforkedend thereof as rod 3|9i is actuated tothe" end?of'itsileftwisemovement by the whiffletree mechanism operatedby the carrier tabs. A lightisp'ringt 3'46 having one end secured to theldle' 3'20E maintained in its normal (full line) `posi- -fti`oniifasvyby* anwover-centerfspring' 350, Athus to *closecommunication between thesupply line 35| and line-*352 "to 'the' related vhoist "cylinder, the

-lluidftothe cylinderthe carrier following depositioniof its load 'on'theelevator moves past the 4station lan 'amount such that release bareXten- 'sion232a"enga`ges arm =34| of the bellcrank 'and actuatesliti-"in" counterclockwise direction. The forkedendfof arm' 342'isturned in opposite dif rectioniagai'n'st the urge of spring 346 andmoves "stop collar Y3'll5 inlY like direction. Accordingly rod 3|9 :i s"actuated tothe right, thus returning 60' valve handlef`3'20V -to its'normal full line position `inder whereupon elevator" 33D `moves to itslow andi exh'austingfthe unloading station hoist cyl- --posi'tionn Q"Preferablyassociated with each of the unloading statibnelevatorsSBll isan inclined receiving "i chiite comprised as by spaced roller sections360,

V"36| supported 'ini inclined 'relation by 'uprights '362,' 363."Thelspacing between roller sections -360,-36| is suicientto-accommodate the Width vfloftlle elevator as indicated in Fig;` 26whereby "the-velevatonmay be moved to its low positionfthroughfthisspace.- In'moving to its low posi- =tien,-- the elevatordischarges the load which has the incline to a receiving table or likeload support.

To prevent a loaded carrier as it approaches the selected receivingstation from actuating the hoist valve at that station, in the eventthat a previously deposited work box has failed to clear the unloadingstation incline, the incline is provided with a pivoted arm 365, theupper end of which is adapted to be depressed by the weight of a loadremaining on the roller sections 368, 36|. Depression of the upper endof the arm 360 causes the lower end thereof to raise, thus to impartupward axial movement to a rod 366 pivoted to said lower end. At itsupper end rod 366 is connected to one arm of a bellcrank 361., the otherarm of which is connected by a link 368 with thrust bar 3|U laterally ofthe king pin 3|4.

Thus, if the load (work box) has failed to clear the unloading stationincline, bellcrank lever 361 is swung to its dotted line position (Fig.25) this movement turning thrust bar 3|0 counterclockwise (Fig. 24)through the link connection 368. Such movement of thrust bar 3|8 causesthe relatively outer bellcrank 300 to be turned clockwise and also therelatively inner bellcrank 30| to be turned clockwise, with the resultthat the station tab arms 30311., 383D are moved out of the pathstraversed by the carrier tabs. Accordingly, under the conditionsspecified, a loaded carrier approaching the selected unloading stationmay pass over that station for recirculation about the track withoutactuating the hoist valve of the station, so that the elevator thereatremains in its low position.

As forecast in the preceding description, the

loading and unloading station elevators are each actuable to up positionby pressure fluid supplied to a fluid cylinder associated with eachelevator and descending to its low position by gravity upon exhaust ofthe pressure fluid from said cylinder. One suggested means of generatingthe desired pressure of fluid for feed to the cylinders is illustratedin Fig. 1, wherein reference character 315 designates a motor-drivenpump arranged at a convenient location in the plant under description,such as in the basement thereof, the inlet line 316 thereto beingconnected to a source of uid under pressure such as water from a usualfactory water-main 311. The outlet side of the pump is connected by aline 318 with a pressure reservoir 388, the upper part of which is lledwith air under pressure from air line 38| connected with a source offactory air. Feed line 382 extends into the pressure reservoir below thewater level therein and communicates with a system of piping onlygenerally indicated at 383, 384 into which is connected the supply lines2|6 and 35|, respectively, to the loading station hoist valve 2|!) (Fig.19) and to the unloading station hoist valves 32|, one being illustratedin Fig. 23. A return line 385 connected into a system of piping,generally indicated at 386, 381 into which is connected the hoistcylinder exhaust lines 2|8, 353 functions to return the iiuid to thereturn reservoir 388 into which pump inlet line 316 is connected. Thissystem as described thus provides a pressure fluid circuit into whichmake-up water may be supplied from main 311.

A by-pass line, 330 having connected therein a relief valve 39| set fora predetermined pressure extends between the pump outlet line 318 andthe return line 385 whereby, with a continuously running pump excesswater under pressure may by-pass to the inlet side of the pump as underconditions of reduced demand. The

pressure air cushion maintained in reservoir 388 serves to level oiiuctuations in water pressure as would otherwise occur during periodswhen pressure liquid is being drawn 01T by the station operations.

With city water available at a pressure or pressures suicient to operatethe hoist, the pump system as described may be omitted altogether andthe feed line 382 to the hoist connected directly into the factory orplant water main 311. It will be understood, also, that a self-containedoil system or a pneumatic system may be employed in place of the watersystem as described for operation of the elevator hoists, whereconditions make this type of operation necessary or advisable.

To summarize briefly the operations of a system described in theforegoing, throwing of a switch (not shown) which connects caterpillardrive motor 41 with a source of electrical energy conditions the systemfor operation by causing actuation of the cable drive chain 55 and henceof the tow cable 30, which latter actuates the carriers in endlesssuccession on the track structure I8. All elevators, both at the loadingstation and at the plurality of unloading stations, are assumed to be intheir low position following cessation of the last preceding operatingperiod of the system.

With a plurality of loads (work boxes) available at the loading station,the operator initially actuates the station selecting means-tocorrespond to the particular unloading station to which the loads are tobe distributed by proper manipulation of the tab setting or dialingcranks 208, 20|. The work boxes are now placed on the loading stationincline, the lowermost box rolling down on to the loading stationelevator, stop rods 21.2 being in low position. The weight of the boxespositioned on the intermediate roller section 260 has actuated triplever 2|8 to its full line position (Fig. 21) in which it is alignedwith a carrier load bar |38.

Upon the rst empty -carrier approaching the loading station, the loadbar thereof engages trip lever 2||J, thereby to actuate hoist valvehandle 2|4 to a position in which the associated Valve admits pressureuid from line 2|6 (supplied from line 383) through line 2 |1 to thelower end of hoist cylinder |62. The loading station elevator with aload thereon is accordingly actuated to its up position and reaches thisposition prior to the arrival of the approaching carrier at the station.

As the carrier moves over the station it negotiates the track rise andaccordingly picks off the load from the elevator. The selecting meanscarried by the elevator further actuates a pair of carrier tabs to openor operative position, the opened tabs corresponding to the selectedstation to which the load is to be distributed. The carrier thereuponmoves away from the loading station.

The first movement of the loaded carrier away from the loading stationresults in release bars 23|, 232 of the carrier engaging track-siderelease levers 234, 235, this engagement eifecting actuation of valvehandle 2|4 to its exhaust position and consequent exhaust of the hoistcylinder whereupon the loading station elevator returns to its lowposition.

The previous raising of the elevator resulted in the raising of the stoprods 212 of the loading station incline, thus to prevent the lowermostbox of the incline from rolling off the same and also causing actuationof the box feed mechto its up position.

" 'anism to advance the:boxesonltheincline the distance' of one box.Ails" the ielevatondescends i as aforesaid, it depressesstop:Frods"2'|2usothat the lowermost" box maynow^rollforrltolthefelevator. If` it is'intendedthatlaifsuccessionfoiwork boxes be sent tofthe sameunloading'station the setting ofthe.selecting means-lisfnot disturbed. Thus the next empty fcarri'er: againcalls up the Yelevatonpicks oifthe -load 'elevatedw thereby, has itstabs set*by`the2s'electing means" to` correspond tothe settingof'thesele'ctedstation and; traveling beyond the "s"tation,f1fffects`lowering of the elevatonl'these operations-continuing in'autom'aticffm'anner'until-thef supply 4of loads for the particularEstation" is exhausted."

The operator` may .thereuponchange 'thee-setting 'of the'Astationlselectingfmeansto A"correspond to a different unloadingist'ationgfandipon loading of theboxesfor the latter stat-ion""on theloading `station incline ithe's'ystem' operates.

in automaticv manner as descibedgfwiththe distinction :thatthe-new-'s'etting of theseecting means actuates a diiTerentLpairof"ycarrier tabs to open or operative position. Orfthefoperator may arrangeloads destined fori different unload-2 ing stations onthe"loa"dingfiricline and obtain the necessary time :for resetting 'thetab-setting mechanism by' providing gaps `betweesuch loads suiiicient topermit one or more empty carriers to pass the loading station'withoutc'alling up"v `the* elevator: thereof.

If-VA reqeiredfmeehanism for effecting the same result mchanicallymay beprovided,fsuch as operator-controlledmeans for actuating trip lever'" 2lIlL out-of wthe path ci the carrier load `bars |30. U Upon the loadedcarriers approachingthe'selected receiving station,the opened tabs"thereof engage' corresponding station tabsiIUSaLSBQ-lb y(Fig. 24),'whosefsetting or elevationvisifdividual to that station, Actuation 'ofvthe station tabs functions 'through '-'the lfwliiiiletree mechanismtioning'ofthe system as. described, andthat all fother sio'perationsVare performed inautomatic r. manner.

-While.` in the foregoing description,` only.; one

loadingstation has 'been illustrated' and :referred "to, itisbothpossible and feasible to"incorpo :"rate with" the systemof the presentinvention a plurality of such loading stations whereby work Amay bedistributed from a plurality of focalworkdistributing points to any oneof a-plura'lity `of "work'receiving 'stations or to a group of-I suchstations related Vthrough the carried tabs and/or selecting means to oneparticularloa'dingfstation.

"As many changes could be 'madein carrying out the'i'above 'construction`without'"departing 'fron thev scope of the invention, it is intended 1thatL alli matter contained in the :above-description orshown in theaccompanying drawings shall 'be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

I claim: n Y 1. In apparatus of the characterdescribed', the

."combination ofV an endless overhead"track, an

endless )series of load-carriers supported on the track, the'carrierseach including spaced load- Y supporting side 'members and having itsbottom e and ends open,` means for propelling the carriers along thetrack, a loading station including an elevator adapted when raisedtoposition'V a load thereon inthe path of the moving carriers and betweenthe' side members thereof, carrier-controlled'mechanism for actuatingthe elevator-to "raised position," the track having an inclined rise 'sorelated to a raised elevator that theyload-supporting Vm'el'nbers of acarrier negotiating-"the l"rise may engage with and lift '01T a load`positioned `vthereon the selected station"hoist`--valve handle-"3211vto feed position, thus tosupplypressureflluidf'to the lower end of Vthehoist'cylinder'=atthat*sta-W tion and hence to actuate the stationelevator `As the loaded carrier moves"overtherraised elevator andynegotiatestheftrack dip'located at each unloading station,-'thel'oad isdepo'sited'"` on the elevator. 'i Further, elevator-carried; pins 331,`338Y function 'to'engage the tab' latch mechanismlto release posit-ionwhereuponjfthepreviously opened tabs now return 'to their "closed orinoperative position. As the carrier moves vbeyond the statiomcarrierrelease lug 232a engages 4track side triparm picking up, conveying; andVdepositing 'operationsf It will `be understood .that lthe'"s'ettingfofit'he station selectingV means by' theif'operator''lrepreisents, withthe eXceptionil'bf "the'actof loading the boxes on theloading@station`incline,the

' 2. In 'apparatus of the character described the `'combir-iation of anendless track, a series of load carriers vsupported thereon, means forpropelling the'carriers :along the track, the carriers being eachprovidedwith amernber movable from an operative tof a retracted'positionin 'response to "the weight of the carrierfload, a loading stationincluding an elevator, means for` actuating the elevator from'A a lowposition below the' track to f araised position rin the path of carriermovement,means for supplying o ne of a succession of loads 4to theelevator when the latteris'in` low f position,V and means forcontrolling operationof said 'elevator' actuating means including anele- Y ment normally disposed in the path of movement of the carriermembers so as to be engaged there- -jby whenthe latter are in theiroperative position,

and 'means for moving said element out Vofthe path 'ofthe carriermembers upon the supply of loads being exhausted.

'3; In apparatus of the character described, the

combination of an endless track, a series of load "thecarriers along thetrack, a carrier loading carriers supported thereon, means `forpropelling station including an elevator movable from a low position toaA raised position in the path of carrier movemenhmeans including areciprocating member for actuating the elevator to raised position,

an incline providing a support for a plurality of loads for supply tothe elevator when Athe latter is in low position,l means responding toVthe approach of' an empty carrier to the loading fstation-for operatingthe elevator actuating means, and'means operable `from and responsiveforits -a"ctuationrto the movement `of said reciprocating mem-perforimparting predetermined movement 'n the dire'ctionbf the elevator to themeds sup- *prted on' the incline.

4. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of anendless track, a series of load carriers supported thereon, means forpropelling the carriers along the track, a carrier loading station, acarrier unloading station including an elevator movable from a lowposition to a raised position in the path of carrier movement, meansnormally effective upon the approach of a loaded carrier destined forthe unloading station to actuate the elevator to raised position, a loaddischarge chute associated with said elevator, the carrier beingoperative to deposit its load on the raised elevator during its travelover the same upon the carrier moving over the raised elevator, meansoperative following load deposition to effect return movement of theelevator to its low position, during which the elevator transfers theload to the discharge chute, and means rendering said elevator actuatingmeans ineffective upon failure of a load previously transferred to thedischarge chute to clear the same.

5. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a track,a series of load-carriers supported on said track, means for propellingthe carriers along the track, loading and unloading stations, eachunloading station including loadreceiving means actuable to apredetermined position in the path of movement of the carriers, normallyineffective means for actuating said receiving means to such positionincluding a pair of station elements located in advance of saidunloading station, the station elements of a pair being mounted both formovement together when engaged by the carrier destined for saidunloading station and for movement independently of each other, meansrequiring that the elements of a pair move together and in predeterminedmanner for rendering said actuating means effective, said last meanslincluding a member mounted both for pivotal movement about an axisintermediate its ends and for shifting movement as a unit, andconnections between the station elements of a pair and the ends of saidmember.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a track,a series of load-carriers supported on said track, means for propellingthe carriers along the track, loading and unloading stations, eachunloading station including loadreceiving means actuable to apredetermined position in the path of movement of the carriers, normallyineffective means for actuating said receiving means to such positionincluding a pair of station elements located in advance of saidunloading station, the station elements of a pair being mounted both formovement together when i engaged by the carrier destined for saidunloading station and for movement independently of each other, andmeans requiring that the elements of a pair move together and inpredetermined manner for rendering said actuating means effective, saidlast means including a first member mounted both for pivotal movementabout an axis intermediate its ends, connections between the stationelements of a pair and the ends of said member, and a second membermounted for axial movement in response to shifting movement of the firstmember.

7. In a conveyer system, the combination of a track, a continuouslydriven load-conveying carrier traveling thereon, the carrier having loadsupporting members operative to support a load along its sides, aloading station including means responsive to the approach of an emptycarrier thereto for stationarily positioning a load to be conveyed inthe path of carrier travel and at a fixed level above that of the loadsupporting members of said carrier, the track being so constructed that,upon the carrier traveling to a predetermined position in which its loadsupporting members are disposed beneath a load positioned as aforesaid,it causes said carrier to raise and its load supporting members toengage and lift the load from the load positioning means.

8. In a conveyer system, the combination of a track, a continuouslydriven load-conveying carrier traveling thereon, the carrier having loadsupporting members operative to support a load along its sides, aloading station including means responsive to the approach of an emptycarrier thereto for stationarily positioning a load to be conveyed inthe path of carrier travel and at a fixed level above that of the loadsupporting members of said carrier, the track having a rise operative,upon the carrier traveling to a predetermined position in which its loadsupporting members are disposed beneath a load positioned as aforesaid,to raise said carrier until its supporting members engage and lift theload from the load positioning means.

9. In a conveyer system, the combination of a track, a continuouslydriven load-conveying carrier traveling thereon, the carrier having loadsupporting members operative to support a load along its sides, aloading station including an elevator having a normal low position andbeing actuable to a raised position in which it is adapted tostationarily position a load to be conveyed in the path of carriertravel and at a fixed level above that of the supporting members of thecarrier when approaching the station, means responding to the approachof an empty carrier lfor actuating the elevator to its raised position,the track having a rise operative, upon the carrier traveling to apredetermined position in which its load supporting members are disposedbeneath a load positioned as aforesaid, to raise the carrier until saidmembers engage and lift the load from the raised elevator, and meansresponsive to the travel of the loaded carrier past the station forreturning the ,elevator to its low position.

10. In a conveyer system, the combination of a track, a continuouslydriven load-conveying carrier traveling thereon, the carrier having loadsupporting members operative to support a load along its sides, anunloading station including load receiving means adapted to bestationarily positioned in the path of carrier travel and at a fixedlevel below that of the load supporting members of the carrier whenapproaching the station, means responding to the approach of the carriercontaining a load destined for said station to actuate the receivingmeans to its position aforesaid, the track being so constructed that,upon travel of said carrier to a predetermined position in which theload supporting members and the load supported thereby are disposedabove the receiving means, it causes the carrier to lower and therebydeposit its load on the load receiving means.

11. In a conveyer system, the combination of a track, a continuouslydriven load-conveying carrier traveling thereon, the carrier having loadsupporting members operative to support a load along its sides, anunloading station including load receiving means adapted to bestationarily positioned in the path of carrier travel and at a xed levelbelow that of the load supporting members of the carrier whenapproaching the station, means responding to the approach of the carriercontaininga load destined ;for said station tov 'actuate the `receivingmeans ,to `,its positionaforesaid, the track'havingva Adip operative,upon travelof said carrier to ,a predetermined 1 position in which its`load supportingmembers` receiving means.r

12. In aconveyer system,thecombination-of Aa track, a continuouslydriven load-,conveying car,- rier ltraveling `thereon,:the carrierhavingfloadvk supporting mem-bers operative to support` a load along,its sides, .an` unloading station including an elevator having a normallow position and being actuable therefrom to a raised position in whichit is disposed at a xed level below that of the supporting members ofthe carrier when approaching the station, means responding to theapproach of the carrier containing a load destined for said station toactuate the elevator to its raised position aforesaid, the track havinga dip operative, upon travel of said carrier to a predetermined positionin which its load supporting members and the load supported thereby aredisposed above-the elevator, to cause the carrier to lower until itdeposits its load on the elevator, and means responsive to the travel ofthe emptied carried past said station for returning the elevator to itslow position.

13. In a conveyer system, the combination of a track, a plurality ofcontinuously driven loadconveying carriers traveling thereon, thecarriers being each provided with load supporting members operative tosupport a load along its o sides, a loading station and a plurality ofunloading stations, the loading station including means responding tothe approach of an empty carrier thereto for stationarily positioning aload to be conveyed in the path of carrier travel and at a fixed levelwhich is above that of the load supporting members of said carrier, eachunloading station including load receiving means adapted, responsivelyto the approach of a carrier bearing a load destined thereto, to bestationarily positioned in the path of carrier travel and at a fixedlevel which is below that of the load supporting members of saidapproaching carrier, the track being provided With a rise so locatedwith reference to the load positioning means as to cause the approachingempty carrier to raise until its load supporting members engage and lift01T a load from the latter and with dips so located with reference tothe load receiving means as to cause a carrier bearing a load destinedto any one unloading station to lower and deposit its load on thestationarily positioned receiving means thereof.

14. In a conveyer system, the combination of a track, a plurality ofcontinuously driven loadconveying carriers traveling thereon, thecarriers being each provided with load supporting members adapted tosupport a load along its sides, a loading station and .a plurality ofunloading stations, the loading station including an elevator having anormal low position and being actuable to a raised position of fixedlevel which is higher than that of the load receiving members ofcarriers traveling on the approach side of the station, means respondingto the approach of an empty carrier for actuating the elevator to itsraised position, and means responding to travel of said carrier past thestation -for returning said elevator to its low position, each unloadingstation including an elevator having a normal low each having loadposition andfbeingactuable Vto a -raised positionofxed,flevellwhich-fis'lower.than that of the supporti-ng members. -ofcarriers travelingon theapproach zlside, of i said station, `meansresponding ,theelevatorto low position, the track havingad jacentthe-loadingstatiorr a risewhich is so located with,.reference; to theA,elevator thereof when` iniitsraised .position-as to cause the carrierto raiseuntil its supporting members engage and lift oi a loadtherefrom, and with a dip adjacent each unloading station which is solocated with reference to the elevator thereof when in raised positionas to cause the carrier to lower until it deposits its load on saidraised elevator.

15. In a conveyer system, the combination of a track, a plurality ofcontinuously driven loadconveying carriers traveling thereon, thecarriers supporting members operative to support a load along its sides,a loading station and a plurality of unloading stations, the loadingstation including means for supplying loads to empty carriers passingthe same, and means for selecting the unloading stations to which loadssupplied to said carriers are destlned, each of said unloading stationsincluding load receiving means adapted to be stationarily positioned inthe path of carrier travel and at a fixed level which is below that ofthe load supporting members of carriers traveling on the approach sideof said station, the track adjacent each unloading station beingprovided With a dip operative to cause lowering of a carrier negotiatingthe same until it deposits a load supported therein on the loadreceiving means of said station when the latter is positioned at itsiixed level aforesaid, and means responding to the app roach to aselected unloading station of a carrier bearing a load destined theretofor actuating the load receiving means of that station to its xed levelas aforesaid.

16. In a conveyer system, the combination of a track, a plurality ofcontinuously driven loadconveying carriers traveling thereon, thecarriers each having load supporting members operative to support a loadalong its sides, a loading statlon and a plurality of unloadingstations, the loading station including means `for supplying loads toempty carriers passing the same, and means for selecting the unloadingstations to which loads supplied to said carriers are destlned, each ofsaid unloading stations including an. elevator having a normal lowposition and being actuable to a raised position in the path of carriertravel and at a xed level which is lower than that of the loadsupporting members of carriers traveling on the approach side of saidstation, the track adjacent each unloading station having a dipoperative to cause lowering of a vcarrier negotiating the same until itdeposits a load supported therein on the elevator of that station whenthe latter is in its raised position, and means responding to theapproach to a selected unloading station of a carrier bearing a loaddestined thereto for actuating the elevator thereof to raised position.

17. In a conveyer system, the combination of a track, a plurality ofcontinuously driven loadconveying carriers traveling thereon, thecarriers each having load supporting members operative to support a loadalong its sides and having

